Did you know that millions of Americans are living with food insecurity? But what is food insecurity? Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Simply put, food insecurity is hunger. The face of hunger is universal. Hunger affects people of all ages and races and exists in all communities.
The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA), Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) and the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recently gifted the Riverbend Food Bank with over 500 pounds of ground pork.
The Riverbend Food Bank provides 17 counties in Illinois access to nutritious and much needed food. “We are always in need of a good source of protein.” said Corlett, food drive coordinator, about the recent donation. This donation was generously provided by local Polo pig farmers Brent and Bruce Scholl. “You can see there is a need and not enough to go around” said Brent Scholl.
In 2008, IPPA launched the Pork Power donation program with the goal of helping fight hunger in Illinois. It provides a system for farmers to donate pork to food banks throughout the state.Since its inception, Pork Power has generated nearly 570,000 pounds of pork - enough for nearly 2.9 million meals - for families throughout Illinois. Pork, soybean and corn producers committed funds from their respective checkoff programs to support this program.
“There are over 120,00 individuals in our Illinois area who are in need and don’t know where their next meal will come from.” said Corlett.
The Pork Power program is also an opportunity to promote pork as families are educated on how to prepare and incorporate pork into their favorite dishes. Families receive information on the important nutritional, mental and physical benefits of including protein in the diet. “We are in the business of feeding people. So why not give back as much as we can?” said Scholl.
Source: Illinois Pork Producers Association